Lifeguard club set high standard again (From Barry And District News)

Lifeguard club set high standard again

RHOOSE Lifeguard Club's youth team members made a great start to the season, with a fourth place finish out of 13 clubs in the Welsh Stillwater Youth Championship, held at the Wales National Pool, Swansea.

After setting new standards last year, with the club's highest finishes in the Welsh and British Surf Life Saving Championships, the current Rhoose youth team have achieved another result which will be very difficult to beat.

The championship consists of a number of races based around different swimming rescue techniques, using a non-floating, weighted manikin as the'patient'.

Another event is where two obstacles are spaced along the 50-metre length of the pool and have to be dived under.

Star performer for Rhoose was James Grandfield, who finished with two individual Welsh titles as well as a team title and a number of other medals in the under 16 boys age group.

James' gold medal-winning performances came in the 200 metre obstacle race and the 100 metre rescue medley. He also won bronze medals in the 50 metre manikin carry and 100 metre manikin carry with fins events.

James was joined by Simon Perry, Niall Pratt and Jonathan Price for the team events, with the boys picking up another Welsh title for Rhoose in the 4 x 25 metre manikin carry relay. The same team also won a silver medal in the 4 x 50 metre obstacle relay and a bronze medal in the 4 x 50 metre medley relay.

In the under 14 age group, Lucy Curtis won a silver medal in the 50 metre manikin carry and a bronze medal in the 100 metre obstacle race.

There were a number of points-scoring performances by other team members - Laura Bremner, Kelly Bates, Natalie Cordy, Lauren Dutton, Lisa Bremner, Will James, Matthew Brewer, Richard Price and Robbie Thompson.

Also taking place was the Welsh Stillwater Senior and Masters Championship.

With no senior competitors, Rhoose attended with just four masters competitors, with the top performance coming from Alison Willis, who won two individual Welsh titles.

Alison won her gold medals in the 100 metre obstacle race and the 100 metre manikin tow with fins. Alison also picked up a silver medal in the 100 metre manikin carry with fins and a bronze medal in the 50 metre manikin carry.

Dave Cooper won bronze in the 100 metre obstacle race, with Nicola Warwick and Mike Thompson also picking up club points.